Apparatus for controlling tobacco feeding mechanism



June 8, 1937'.

FVF. RUAU APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TOBACCO FEEDING MECHANSM) Filed May 26, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 al 94655., fini/,-

June 8, 1937. v F. F. RUAU 2,083,173

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TOBACCO FEEDING MECHANISM Filed May 2e, 1934 4 sheets-sheet '2 INVENTOR- June 8, 1937. F. F. RLJAU 2,083,173

APPARATUS FOR CON'IROKLLING TOBACCO FEEDIG MECHANISM Filed May 2e, 1954 4 sheets-sheet s Y E @iQ/@fw @iM-5%@ @ms M Afl-azys June`8, 1937. 2,083,173

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TOBACCO 'FEEDING MECHANISM I F. F. RUAU 4 VSheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 26, 1934 @ffm @ifm

Patented Jullie 8,y 1937 i'i'ED STATES APPARATUS FOR. CONTROLLING ATOBACCO FEEDNG MECHANI'SM Felix Frederic auau, Deptford, London, England Appiicanon May 2c, 1934, sensi No. 121,781 In Great Britain June 7, 1933 Claims. *(Cl. 131-39) rlhis invention is for improvements in or relating to apparatus for controlling tobacco feeding mechanism, and refers more particularly to an improved device for automatically controlling the tobacco feed of a cigarette making machine so as to ensure that cigarettes of consistent weight are produced.

It has previously been proposed to provide apparatus for use on a cigarette making machine wherein means operable to vary automatically the feed of tobacco to the cigarette making machine, is operatively connected to weighing mechanism in such a manner that variations in the weight of the cigarettes produced by the machine automatically ensure variations in the feed of vthe tobacco. However, in such apparatus the regulation oi the tobacco feed has been effected in such a manner that the amount of regulation each time the mechanism is operated is the same i in spite'of variations in the weights of successive quantities of cigarettes.

It will be seen that in view of the time interval between the manufacture of the cigarettes, and the subsequent regulation of the tobacco feed,

when the said cigarettes are weighed, that if, for

example, a number of cigarettes which are too light have been produced, it is necessary to correct the machine as speedily as possible, and "as the amount of regulation is always the same even when the cigarettes have a weight which differs considerably from the desired weight, it requires several successive weighings and corresponding movements of the regulating mechanism before Vthe machine is corrected. To overcome this drawback, the object of the present invention the amount of regulation imparted to the tobacco feeding apparatus is proportional to the difference in weight of any given batch'of cigarettes from the normal weight.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus in or for use with a tobacco feeding mechanism (e. g., for a cigarette making machine) for controlling the quantity of tobacco supplied, comprising a weighing mechanism, de-

' tector means co-operating with the weigh beam thereof, and movable in proportion to the amount of deiiection of the weigh beam and means operatively connected to the detector means to regulate the tobacco feeding mechanism proportionately to the movement of the detector means.

Further, vaccording to the present invention there is provided apparatus in combination with or for use with tobacco feeding mechanism, the said apparatus comprising a weighing device,

v electrical wiring connections used with the appais toV provide means wherebymovable detector means co-operating with the weighl beam ofthe weighing device and movable in proportion to the amount of deflection of the weigh beam, means movable with the weigh beam to determine the amount of movement of the 5 detector, regulating means to regulate the tobacco feeding mechanism, stopping means operative to stop the regulating means after a time interval, said stopping means being operatively coupled to the detector means so that the duration of operation of the regulating means is determined by the Vposition of the detectors after a weighing operation.Y

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichz Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure `2 is a sectional elevation of Figure 1 taken in the directionof the arrow A.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic View showing the operation of certain parts of the apparatus. Y

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the ratus.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the apparatus.

' Figure 6-is a plan of Figure 5, the figure being turned round in the drawings for the sake of convenience.

Figure '7 lis a sectional view on an enlarged scale showing a detail of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a side elevation showing a modified form of the invention.

Figure 9 is a plan of Figure 8.

-Figure 10 is a front elevation of Figure 8.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the specification and the several iigures of the drawings. Y

Referring to Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings,

.the weigh beam I of the apparatus has iixed relatively to it a plate 2 by means rof which the deflection of the beam after a weighing operation has taken place may be readily registered. This plate 2 will be referred to hereafter as the deflection plate. The upper edge 'l of the deflection plate 2, which is preferably formed at the top of an arm 3 projecting upwardly from the weigh beam, may be shaped to any suitable curve which may or may not be concentric with the knife edge 4 of the weigh beam so that detectors 5, hereinafter termed feelers which are Ylowered at predetermined intervals on to the de- Cil " plate 2 has come to rest.

carriers 23 will not be operated.

erably the deflection plate 2 is provided with a number of small steps 5, the steps being in two groups, one on each side of the plate, as shown clearly in Figure 1. The upper edge 'I of the plate 2 may be formed as a plain edge or may be serrated as shown in Figure l.

The feelers 5 are arranged to rest upon this top portion of the plate 2 if the deflection of the plate (i. e., the weight of the cigarettes) is normal. The feelers 5 are xed to the ends of bell crank levers il pivoted at 9 in bearings I0 in the machine frame. The feelers are controlled by a vertical rod operated by a rotating cam I2 through the medium of levers I3,l I 4, 5 and I5 (see Figure 3) so that the feelers 5 are lowered on to the deflection plate assoon as the weighing operation is completed and the beam comes to rest. The cam l2 is driven in synchronism with the cigarette making machine and the cigarettes being weighed are automatically deposited at intervals in batches into the scalev pan (not shown) of the weighing mechanism, the scale pan being supported by the rod I1. In United StatesPatent No. 1,921,317, there is shown mechanism for delivering cigarettes from the cigarette making machine into the scale pan of a weighing device. When aweighing operation is completed, the mechanism is caused to tilt the pan so as to empty the pan of cigarettes. Mechanism such as that disclosed in the prior United States patent may be employed in conjunction with the present invention, and the feelers 5 are synchronized with the weighing mechanism so that the feelers are lowered when the deflection The feelers and deflectionv plate are synchronized by means ofgearing which is arranged both to operate to empty the scale pan and to operate the shaft which carries the cam I2, shown in Figure 3` of the drawings accompanying the present specification.

The levers-3 to which the feelers 5 are attached are, as previously stated, pivoted at 9 and are arranged so that they normally occupy a po- Y sition whereby the feelers are held' away from the deflection plate.

A pair of mercury switches I8 and I9 of the type comprising a glass tube with two or more contacts therein are mounted on carriers 23l pivoted to the frame of the machine atv 23. The switches I8 and I 3. are provided with contacts 2| and, 22 and the carriers 23 on which the switches I 8 and I 9 are mounted are arranged to rest on adjustable stops 2li-which are movable to such a height sov that when the carriers are restingv on the stops, the mercuryk in the switches is at the end of the tubes Opposite the'contacts and the electric circuits are broken.

The arms 3 I of the levers Svare arranged to engage with the carriers 23 or with parts connected to them and turnl'them about the pivot 29- for av distance which is determined by the position taken up by a feeler 5 after a weighing operation.

Only one of the feelers 5 is arranged to operate a switch at any time, as the other feeler will be arrested by thefserrated edge l of the deflection plate. The rod I l is slotted at its upper end as seen in Figure 2 in order to permit the continued downward movement of the rod when a feeleror both of the feelers is or are arrested by the edge 7 of the deflectionA plate. If the weight ofa batchof cigarettes is normal, both feelers 5 will be arrested by the edge l and the To the free end of each of the carriers 23 there is pivoted a pawl |24 which is arranged to engage with a rack 25 xed to the frame of the machine. The pawls are weighted so as to tend to engage with the racks by gravity. When the cam i2 operates to raise the feelers 5 from plate 2 to reset the apparatus, the levers 8 are swung about the pivot 9 and if a carrier 23 has been operated by one of the arms 8| after the last weighing operation, this arm 8| now moves away from the carrier so operated and the carrier remains in the set position, being held there by the contacting members |24 and 25 until a projection 25 shown in the drawings as a screw carried by the rod il rises and trips the pawl |24 out of engagement with the rack 25. When the pawl is tripped the carrier 23 returns by gravity to its normal position on the stop 24 and the circuit which was energized is thus broken.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that the mercury switches are arranged in parallel, and they are connected to a pair of solenoids 2l, 22 shown more clearly in Figures 5 and 6.

The armature 29 of each solenoid is connected to one arm of a bellcrank lever 3|, the other arm of which constitutes a pawl 32. The levers 3| are further connected by bearings formed at the angle of the bell crank by pivots 33 to a pivoted lever 34. The pivoted lever 34 is oscillated about its pivot 35- by a link 35 attached to an eccentric 37, see Figure 5, which is driven from the main drive of the cigarette making machine.

By means of this eccentric the pawls 32 are constantly vibrated in the neighborhood of the ratchet wheels 33 and when one of the solenoids 27er 28 is energized, the armature 29 is pulled downwardly against the action of the spring 39 and causes the corresponding pawl 32 to engage with aratchet wheel 38; The wheels 38'are arranged so that one causes the shaft 40 to be rotated, in one direction whilst the other causes the shaft to be rotated in the reverse direction. The shaft is connected with the control shaft or the shaft 40 may be the control shaft of the tobacco feeding apparatus through a variable speed gear with the main drive of the tobacco feeding apparatus, and when the shaft 4D is rotated in one direction or the other, the tobacco feeding apparatus operates at a faster speed or slower speed according to the direction in which the shaft is rotated.

The weighing mechanism is arranged so that some cigarettes as they issue from the cigarette machine are delivered into the weighing pan. Thismay be effected by the mechanism described in prior British patent specification No. 375,463.

The operation of the apparatus is asv follows:

supposing for example, a batch of cigarettes hasjust been weighed and the pointer 4| has moved to the left of Figure 1, thus indicating that the cigarettes are lighter than normal weight, the deector plate 2 will move to the right of the drawings, and when the cam I2 allows'the feelers 5 to descend the left-hand feeler as seen in Figure l., willcome into engagement with one of the steps@ on the deflector plate 2.

The other feeler will rest on vthe top of the deflection plate, and by this means the mercury switch operated'by this feeler will'not be operated during this cycle of operations.

The mercury switch I3, however, will be tilted upwardly and the circuit will be made, thereby energizing the solenoid 21. When this occurs, the armature 29 is drawn downwardly and the bellcrank 3| is pulled against the action of the spring 39 so that the pawl 32 is brought into engagement with the ratchet wheel 38 shown in Figure 5. 'The eccentric 31 causes the pawl 32 to continuously operate the ratchet wheel 38 Whilst the solenoid 21 remains energized. In thisV way, the control shaft 48 of the tobacco feeding apparatus will be operated as long as the circuit is made andthe length of time during which this occurs is determined by the position which the feeler 5 has assumed with respect to the deflection plate 2.

After the circuit has been made and the parts just described set in operation, the cam I2 again raises. the rod II and lifts 'the feelers 5 out of engagement with the deflection plate 2 and causes the arm 8|, see Figure 2, of the bellcrank lever 8 to be moved away from the stop on the carrier 23. The carrier 23 does not immediately return to its normal position, as shown in Figure 2, but is held in the inclined position to which it was set by the initial movement of the lever 8 by the pawl 24 engaging with the rack 25. As the rod rises, the stop 26 comes into engagement with the tail of the pawl |24 and causes the pawl to be disengaged from the rack 25. When this happens the carrier 23 drops back to the position shown in Figure 2 and the circuit is broken and the pawl 32 ceases to operate the ratchet wheel 38.

It will be seen that the time during which the pawl 32 and ratchet 38 co-operate to alter the control shaft 40 of the tobacco feeding mechanism isv determined by the length of time during which the circuit remains completed. and this is determined by the angle of inclination of the carrier 23 which causes the circuit to be made.

This angle is in turn determined by the position of ther feelers 5 after a weighing operation and the time which elapses before the circuit is again broken is determined by the position the pawl |24 assumes with respect to the rack 25, as when the pawl |24 assumes a position towards the upper part of the rack 25, it will be appreciated that a longer time interval elapses before the pawl is tripped by the stop 2B than when it occupied a lower position.

It will be seen, therefore, that the time during which the control shaft 40 is being operated by one of the ratchets 38 is proportional to\the variationv in weight of a batch of cigarettes from the weight of a predetermined or normal batch of cigarettes. f Y Referring to the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9 the feelers |59 are fixed to arms 44 carried on a spindle 45. The switch carriers |23 are also mounted on the spindle 45 and are arranged to be tilted downwardly by the arms 44 engaging with stops 46 as the feelers assume a position with respect to the deflecting plate 2 after a weighing operation. In place of the racks 25 previously described, 'a ratchet Wheel 41 is provided and pawls 48 and 49 fixed or resiliently mounted on the carriers |23 are arranged to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 41. A further pawl 59 is provided and is mounted on an arm 5| provided with a pin 52 which co-operates with a slot 53 in the rod I||. The pawl 50'serves to set back the ratchet wheel when parts are returned to the normal position after the tobacco feed controlling apparatus has been operated.

.The operation of the apparatus constructed in accordance with the modified form of the invention is similar to that previously described so that when a feeler assumes a position similar to that previously described withY reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, the arm 44 moves downwardly and is assisted in this movement by a counterweight 54. The movement of the arm 44 tilts the carrier |23 downwardly so that the mercury in the switch causes a circuit to be made. The continued downward movement of the rod after the feeler has engaged with the deflection plate 2 causes the top of the slot 53 to engage with the pin 52 and draws the pawl 50 downwardly over the tops of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 41. A spring 55 is provided to balance the counterweights 54.

As the rod again moves upwardly to return the various parts to their normal positions, the pin 52 is not engaged by the bottom of the slot 53 until the rod has moved a distance equal to the length of the slot and during this period the carrier |23 remains inV the operative position whereby the circuit is completed. The carrier is held in this position by the corresponding pawl 48 or 49 being in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 41, the wheel being frictionally held against rotational movement by suitable means (not shown). When, however, the rod has moved a distance equal tothe length of theA slot 53, thepin 52 is engaged by the bottom of the Vslot and thecontinued movement of the rod causes the ratchet wheel 41 to be rotated in a clockwise idirection as viewed in Figure 8, and the carrier |23 isY similarly rotated as theweight of the carrier |23 is holding the pawl 48 in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 41.

Just before the stop 56 carried by the carrier |23, engages with the bracket 51 the tail 58 of the pawl 48 contactsrwith la trip stop 59 fixed to the frame of the apparatus. The trip Stop 59 disengages the pawl 48 from the ratchet and the carriage then falls by gravity to its normal position thus breaking the circuit with a snap action similar to that previously described4 It will be seen that the construction shown in Figures 8 and 9 is merely a modified form of that shown in the remaining figures of the drawings, and that the operation of the apparatus is precisely similar.

It will be appreciated that the vterm weigh beam as employed herein is used broadly to refer to any element of a scale or weighing mechanism which is displaced to'an extent proportional to the weight of the article or articles being measured. Thus the element in question may partake of rocking movement as is most customary, or may be supported for linear reciprocation. It is only necessary that the extent of l displacement of the detector member vary in accordance with the extent of displacement of the element in question. v f

`What .I claim as my' invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

l. In a cigarette making machinathe combination with electrically operated means to control the quantity of tobacco supplied to the machine,.of weighing mechanism having a weigh beam, a deflection plate cooperating with the f weigh beam, an electrical -circuit for the control means, at least onedetector member being movable to engage the deflection plate after a weighing operation and operable after said weighing operation to close the said circuit and regulate the control means, said circuit remaining completedfor a period' of time determined by the extent of movement of said member.

2. In a cigarettermaking machine, the combination with electrically operated means to control the quantity of tobacco supplied to the maV chine, of' a weighing mechanism having a Weigh beam, a deflection plate cooperating with the Weigh beam, an electrical circuit for the control means, at least one detector member movable to engage the deiiection p-late after a weighing op eration and operable after said weighing operation to close the said circuit and regulate the control means, means to actuate the detector member, and means to reset the detector member and'to break said circuit after a time interval determined by the extent of movement of the detector member.

3. In a cigarette making machine, the combination with electrically operated means to contro] the quantity of tobacco supplied to the machine, of a weighing mechanism having a weigh beam, a deection plate cooperating with the Weigh beam, an electrical circuit for the control means, two detector members movable to engage the deflection plate after a weighing operation', a pivotally mounted switch for each member actuated by said members to close the said electric circuit and regulate the control means, said control means being operative by one of said switches to retard the tobacco feed and by the other switch to accelerate the feed, means to actuate the detector members, and means to reset a detector member after a detecting operation and to break said circuit after a time interval determined by the extent of movement of the detector member.

4. In a cigarette making machine, the combination with electrically operated means to control the quantity oi tobacco supplied to the machine, of a Weighing mechanism having a weigh beam, an electrical circuit for the control means, a deflection plate cooperating with the weigh beam, two detector members movable to engage the deiiection plate after a weighing operation, a pivotally mounted switch for each member actuated by said members to close said electric circuit and regulate lthe control means, said control means being operative by one of said switches to retard the tobacco feed and by the other switch to accelerate the feed, a ratchet and pawl to retain a switch in the operative position, means to actuate the detector members, and means to reset a detector member after a detecting operation and disengage said ratchet and pawl to break said circuit after a time interval determined by the extent oi movement of the detector member.

5. In a cigarette'making machine, the combination with electrically operated means to control the quantity of tobacco supplied to the machine, of a weighing mechanism having a weigh beam, a deection plate cooperating with the weigh beam, an electrical circuit for the control means, two detector members movable to engage the` deiiection plate after a weighing operation, a pivotally mounted switch for each `member actuated by saidmembers to close the said e1ectric circuit, ratchet wheels on the control shaft of the tobacco feeding mechanism, pawls to engage said wheels, one of the wheels being operated by one of said switches to accelerate the tobacco feed and the other operated by the other switch'to retard the tobacco feed, a ratchet and pawl to retain one of saidswitches in the opbeam, a deflection plate cooperating with the weigh beam, an electrical circuit for the control means, two detector members movable toV engage the deflection plate after a weighing. operation, a pivotally mounted switch for each member actuated by said members to close the said electric circuit, a solenoid connectedwith eachswitch, a ratchet and pawlto retain the switch in the operative position, ratchet wheels on thecontrol shaft of the tobacco. feeding mechanism, pawls operated by said solenoids to engage said wheels, one of the wheels being operated by one of said solenoids to accelerate. the tobacco feed and the other operated by the other solenoid' to retard the tobacco feed, means operative to actuate the detector, and means operative in timedrelationship with said actuating means to break the circuit while the detector is being reset, said circuit breaking means being operative at a point and after a time interval determined by the position of the detector with respect to the deflection plate after a weighing operation.

7. In a cigarette making machine, the combination with electrically operated means to control the quantity of tobacco supplied to the machine, oi a weighing mechanism having a Weigh beam, a deflection plate cooperating with the weigh beam, an electrical circuit for said control means, two detector members movable to engage the deiiection plate after aI weighing operation, Va pivotally mounted' switch for each member actuated by said members to close the said electric circuit, a solenoid connected with each switch, a ratchet and pawl to retain the switch in the operative position, ratchet wheels on the control shaft of the tobacco feedingv mechanism', con

tinuously oscillating pawls operated' by said solenoid to engage said wheels, one of the Vwheels being operated by one of said solenoids to' accelerate the tobacco feed and the other operated by the other solenoid to retard the tobacco feed, means operative to actuatethe detector, and means operative in timed relationship with said actu.- ating means to break the circuit while thel de'- tector is being reset, said circuit breaking means i being operative at a point and after aV time interval determined by the position of the detector with respect to the deection plate after a weighing operation.

8. In a cigarette making machine, they combination with means to control the quantity of tobacco supplied to the machine, of a weighing mechanism having a weigh beam, at least one detector member movable to engage the beam after a weighing operation, and means connected with said member and operative to regulate said control means to either` increase or decrease the quantity oi tobacco supplied to the machine to extents proportioned to the extents of movement of the detector member.

9. In a cigarette making machine, the combination with control means for varying the quantity of tobacco supplied to the machine,.of weight responsive mechanism including a member displaceable from a neutral position to an extent Ala determined by the weight of the product of the machine, detector means movable to engage said member while the latter is displaced, said member having a portion engageable by said detector means and so formed that the latter moves to an extent determined by the Weight of the machine product, whereby the extent of movement of the detector means affords a measure of the weight of the product, and operative connections be- 10 tween said detector means and said control means for causing the latter to increase or decrease the quantity of tobacco supplied to the machine to extents proportioned to the extents of movement of the detector means.

l0. In a cigarette making machine, the combination with control means for varying the quantity of tobacco supplied to the machine, of weight responsive mechanism including a member displaceable from a neutral position to an extent determined by the weight of the product of the machine, detector means movable to engage said member while the latter is displaced, said member having a portion engageable by said detector means and soV formed that the latter moves to an extent determined by the weight of the machine product, whereby the extent of movement of the detector means affords a measure of the weight of the product, and operative connections between said detector means and said control means for effecting operation of the latter during periods of time determined by the extents of movement of the detector member, whereby the quantity of tobacco supplied to the machine is varied in proportion to variation in weight of the product.

' FELIX FREDERIC RUAU. 

